The National Tuberculosis Control Programme is in operation since 1962, and its quantitative achievement is being monitored indirectly through records and reports received from District Tuberculosis Centres. For direct evidence of impact of the programme, tuberculin surveys are useful in reflecting the recent epidemiological situations prevailing in the area. Tuberculosis being a disease of secular nature, a periodic follow up with five years (arbitrary) interval may be preferred over the continuous follow up, for finding the trend of tuberculosis situations in an area.

Keeping in view the importance of tuberculin surveys, National TB Institute (NTI) has evolved a surveillance system which can be adopted by any state in India. The state teams can be trained at NTI in registering population, tuberculin testing & reading, so as to carry out the surveillance in their respective areas. It is essential to create a central organisation for surveillance of tuberculosis using the tuberculin test. The centre would be responsible for technical & administrative support and monitoring. NTI could provide technical expertise in formulating the surveillance system, a training methodology and an in service training to the designated staff.